April 24, 2014

Friends... Live, And In Person - Five Minute Friday



You SEE? I told ya'll last week that I was missing this #fmfparty community so much over the past couple of weeks that I would show up early and stay late tonight... but then my Girlie ended up not having to work... and she wooed me into some couch/Netflix/Cuddle time and well... here I am... showing up late to the party and with no TweetChat to help me get caught up!  Still... priorities right? And when you have a Nearly Grown (nearly 19? What?) Girlie who is one of your very best friends... and somehow by the grace of God, you are one of hers... well - she wins out as much as I love ya'll. Every. Single. Time.

Oh but - first - the fine print: if you don't know what FMF is!  Five Minute Fridays are hosted by Lisa Jo Baker.  It is open to anyone, so to learn more about it - and to jump in yourself (the more the merrier!) or just to find a linky to see what everyone is writing about today - click HERE!  The idea is to simply write... for Five Minutes flat... no editing, no deep thinking - or at least REthinking, no spell check - just write! Let it flow! We all write using a prompt that Lisa posts at 10pm Thursday night (EST.)  I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!

So - here goes: Five Minute Friday - The Word Prompt is: FRIEND

{GO}

Friend... it is such a precious word... full of love and grace.  It's not always... no, I know. I have been hurt too.  But there is something healing and hope-filled when it is said softly, with a little tilt of the head, a melody sung, wrapping you in warmth... inviting you in.  

I snuck away this week for an escape overnight getaway with friends... life is busy - but sometimes we need friends to remind us to Just Breathe... to laugh... to let go!


I remember reading it first, as a new Christian, that Jesus calls us friend.  I fell in love a little deeper right then and there because I am pretty sure that He is the best example of friend and so I say it to others, pointing to Him. 

"My friend..."

It slips out in texts and real life conversations and I say it often and I mean it always and it is not meant to be syrupy sweet - it is meant to seep in deep to show you how valued you are! You are, ya know? Valued, I mean... someone - many someones, I suspect, call you friend!

This weekend I am hosting the (in)RL conference for the second year in a row and while I may have possibly had a slight freak out moment earlier this week, and my day is OOBER Bossy tomorrow with all sorts of prep and praying, I am so excited to see who He brings to my door... to sit across from me and share our stories, Live and In Person... to connect and find that space of recognition when we dare to be real... those "Oh, you too?" moments where Friendships begin... again and again and again!

My own Nearly Grown Girlie is one of my best friends and she stood beside me in the kitchen tonight and whispered how she was sad she was going to have to miss it - my (in)RL meet up.  She is working and will not be able to be here - but she can watch the video's with me later and we will eat the (leftover?) cupcakes and talk about our stories and how they have intertwined for the whole of her life and how, tearfully yet joyfully, she is about to have some stories of her own that will not (always) involve me.  (Deep breaths!) Oh - but I know she will always come back here, to the bend of my side, and the crook of my arm and she will lean in close and tell me her stories.  I will always listen... always laugh... always pray. 

I want her to be bold... to see Friendships that are real and that run deep. Friends that stand up strong and hold up arms and bend down low in times of need. I want her to see Grace Extended, Forgiveness Given, Love that Grows Deeper and Lives Lived Together over months, and years, and decades.

And as I am pondering this, and hoping she is seeing this in the friendships around her, God gently reminds me that she is seeing this right here at home.  In my friendship with Him, with her Daddy, with her.

That is the grace of real friendship... sometimes it's messy and sometimes it's brutally honest, or desperately sad... sometimes it is anger and hurt feelings and misunderstandings and let downs... but only sometimes.  And for all the times that it is all the opposite things... it is worth the risk!

It is worth the risk, my friend! 


(in)RL Gathering - 2013

Step out... speak up... be seen.  Reach out, join in, make room... I pray you are connected and have friends that you are doing life with and I pray that you are planning on setting aside a little time this weekend to join us as we share our stories at (in)RL...

{STOP}

I am blessed to have amazing friends both online in incredible communities, and also live and in person... I firmly believe in being fully invested and making friendships a priority.  It's not always easy - but it is always worth it!


Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click here to read what others have to say about "FRIEND"  

Hoping you are feeling surrounded by Friends... and plan on reaching out and joining in for #inrl Friday night and Saturday all around the world!






16 comments :

  1. I loved reading your FMF post! Yes, friendships can sometimes be messy, but those true God-given special friends are worth fighting for! They are such an incredible blessing and keep us focused on Him! Prayers for a wonderful conference this weekend!

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    1. Thanks so much Courtney! I appreciate the prayers... I am expecting Him and so anyone else who shows up will be in for a shower of blessings! (Are you connecting with inrl at all this weekend?) Blessings!

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  2. Thank you so much for this post. Friendship is so worth the risk. All these posts on friendship, are encouraging me to reach out to friends I haven't talked to in a while. Your words are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your heart.

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    1. Jo Rose - it can be work, yes? Some friendships are meant for a season - but some are meant for longer and we simply have to press through and invest. Praying for you as you reach out! It's worth the risk, my friend!

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  3. Anonymous9:39 AM

    It is always worth it...no matter how much work is involved! You are so right, my friend. Praying much success over your gathering and ask you to pray the same over mine on Sunday! Much love.

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  4. I'll be praying for all of the in(RL) meet-ups. I have to work tomorrow :(. Isn't it wonderful to have your daughter become your friend? That's where I am with my babies now--they are my best girl friends. I get to go to a writing conference with one next weekend, and the other returns from Argentina (where she's been since September) in just three weeks. I. Can't. Wait. (But, I'll have to).

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    1. Anita - how wonderful! It is such a gift to have raised people you actually want to hang out with - and they want to hang out with you too! Blessings!

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  5. Hope you have a wonderful meet up! God bless you sister- you are such an encourager!!!

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    1. Oh Ash... I wish you could be here, inrl! Love you, girl!

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  6. Anonymous12:40 PM

    Yes friendships are messy and a risk but the blessings we receive from taking those risks far outweigh the scariness of taking that first step. I love that you and your daughter are such good friends-what a testimony to your parenting and for sharing your heart with your daughter that then allows her to do the same with you. Happy (in)RL weekend to you!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by - and the well wishes for my (in)RL! I hope you are able to soak some of the shared stories as well! Blessings!

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  7. The idea of being friends, real friends with your daughter is such a beautiful encouragement to me, mine is 7, and while I consider my mom one of my DEAREST friends - I'm just not there yet with my girl. Love this...God bless you and all your prep for the (in)RL meet up!

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    1. Jamie, Thanks so much for stopping by! Yes - it is a gift to have raised a whole person and it turns out, they are someone you really like spending time with! ;) In fact, in the midst of all the inrl prep today - we are off for a walk in the sunshine together before she has to work (and I have to get back to work!) Have a blessed weekend!

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  8. Anonymous8:54 AM

    It's it a wonderful (but sometimes messy) moving from just mom to mom/friend ? I am loving that my girlie and I can be friends and that she wants to be there for me.

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    1. It is a tricky transition for sure... and I suspect that the relationship wilil always teeter back and forth a bit, but what an honor and a joy to have raised a best friend!

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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